The Easy Frozen Protein Your Casseroles Need

Looking for an easy dinner that can be pulled together with a few ingredients that everyone will eat? A casserole rises high on the list, but add the magic of frozen chicken nuggets, and it leapfrogs to the top. Chicken nuggets are beloved by young and old, and while they are not the first protein that comes to mind when making this dish, if you have a bag in your freezer, they are a genius ingredient for your next casserole.

To transform your chicken parmesan into a low-lift casserole with a big taste or if you want to whip up a quick version of a favorite chicken and waffles breakfast casserole, using pre-cooked, boneless, breaded chicken nuggets can be a game changer. Depending on how you incorporate them into your recipe can determine if you want to start with frozen or baked. If you are using them as the base layer of your casserole and want them really crispy, or it's a casserole with a short cooking time, you may want to bake your favorite brand of these mini chicken pieces per the directions first. Additionally, if you bake or even parbake them, it will make it easier to cut them up if you want smaller pieces sprinkled throughout your dish. 

Substitute chicken nuggets in place of pieces of shredded chicken in your next buffalo chicken casserole. Layer your chicken nuggets on the bottom of the baking dish, add a layer of hash browns, cheese, and hot sauce, and you have a dish that is hearty, quick, and delicious. Or swap out the ground beef for these bites of chicken in your next cheesy tater tot casserole. Chicken nuggets create a nice, firm base for the layers of cheddar cheese soup, cream of mushroom soup, veggies, and finally the crowning glory, the tater tots. Once you try it, this meal may make it into your culinary repertoire on repeat.

The beauty of chicken nuggets is they work well in lots of different cuisines. They can also be used in Tex-Mex and Asian-inspired casseroles. Even if you are on the fence about whether or not King Ranch chicken is or isn't a casserole, these babies can add a little something extra to its taste and texture when layered with corn tortillas, tomatoes, peppers, and cheese. Bring it to the next potluck or book club meeting and watch it be the star of the table. Bake and cut them up to add them to a chicken teriyaki casserole, and your kids will gobble it up, veggies and all.